ARCH - Architecture and Design

An introduction to fundamental design, architectural design drawing and applied drawing techniques. Students are introduced in lecture to design and drawing principles, techniques and conventions used to develop and communicate architectural ideas. Lab assignments emphasize the relationship between drawing and three-dimensional form and space, and include exercises in basic design and model-making.

This course is a fundamental course that investigates the properties and principles of basic color theory and its interrelationship with lighting. The focus is on the psychological and physiological effects of color and lighting as they apply to the form, texture, and finish of interior spaces. It also provides a basic understanding of lighting calculations, types of lamps and their uses. Additionally, there will be a segment on calculations related to acoustical performance.

This course introduces the student to the fundamental principles of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems for residential and commercial buildings. MEP system components, their integration into the building, and energy conservation are discussed and illustrated. Students will design various residential systems and will solve problems related to heat loss, fuel usage, fixture quantity, and supply and drain, waste, and vent piping.

This studio course emphasizes the design process and space planning for modest size facilities. The students will apply color rendering techniques to present interior design solutions. Students will select appropriate materials for various spaces in accordance with accepted design standards. Design issues such as furniture planning and layouts, application of color, and building code and ADA (American with Disabilities Act) considerations are included.

This design course focuses on the development of complex interior space planning for large commercial/public facilities. Problem solving for both individual and collaborative projects are accomplished through various research methods and programming of client needs. Students will refine both manual and computer generated drawing and rendering techniques. An integrative approach to the design process will include technical issues, budgetary concerns, and code compliance. There is a final project in this course.

Urban sketching and Journaling is offered to students enrolled at Sant' Anna Institute as part of the study abroad program in Sorrento, Italy. The course is designed to augment the architecture students' experience of their semester abroad, but is also intended for students of the arts, and for any student wishing to develop drawing skills and observational acuity. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of drawing as an invaluable tool for seeing, learning, thinking, and communicating.

This course is a study of methods, systems, and materials used in the design and construction of commercial buildings. An emphasis is placed on the integration of materials and systems used for foundations, envelope construction, and roof systems. A general study of the International Building Code is included with respect to public commercial structures. Various two-dimensional and three-dimensional computer applications are used throughout the course.

This course covers the municipal code review process and definition of model building and zoning codes. The course emphasizes use and occupancy, special use and occupancy, building heights and areas, types of construction, fire-resistive construction, interior finishes, fire-protection systems, means of egress, accessibility, interior environment, energy efficiency, exterior walls, roof assemblies, structural provisions, building materials and systems and existing structures as described in the Building Code of New York State.

The course concentrates on problem solving methods for a variety of architectural project types and sizes. Students working individually and in teams explore and document their work through sketches, study models, and preliminary working drawings. The students are encouraged to develop a professional approach to investigating, analyzing, and solving architectural problems. This is the culminating course of the two-year degree program as well as a stepping-stone to the upper level studio courses in the four-year degree program.

Architectural Photography is a course taught in conjunction with the Junior Year Study Abroad Program in Sorrento, Italy. It is designed for the novice photographer and is intended to give the students the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively document the architecture seen while traveling throughout the semester. The course will introduce the student to the fundamentals of digital photography and digital imaging. Students enrolled in the course will need a reasonably good digital camera, a laptop computer and image-editing software.

Sustainable building design is a relatively new approach to architectural design which evolved from solar design solutions of the past three decades. In this field, architects attempt to design structures that have a minimum negative impact on the natural world. In this course students concentrate on five major area of sustainability including energy, air, water, materials, and site planning. Students will produce a final design project that integrates the five major areas discussed.

Studio Sorrento is intended solely for students enrolled in the Junior Year Study Abroad Program in Sorrento, Italy. The course will be structured around the experiences, field trips and other learning opportunities during the semester of study in Italy. Particular attention will focus on elements of traditional town design, sustainable building strategies, historic building analysis, and adaptive/sustainable re-use of historic structures.

This studio focuses on the design of buildings and places in an urban setting that require an intense concentration of support systems. The course exploration and study of architectural design, technology, and planning principles is designed to bridge the gap between architectural theory and practice through the design of structures and places for human use and inspiration. Students will be expected to progress through the schematic design and design development phases of short-term and extended design projects.

This course is the capstone of the six semester sequence of architectural design studios. Building upon the thesis research completed during the previous semester, students will finalize a design program for their chosen thesis project. They will carry out a comprehensive design development study, present their design solution to a jury of faculty and visiting professionals, and defend the decision making process that gave rise to their design.

This seminar introduces the student to theories and criticisms of contemporary architecture from the beginnings of the Bauhaus to the issues of contemporary practice. The course is designed to be interactive and will consist of discussion, writing assignments, in class exercises and presentations. Students, singularly and in groups of two, will have the responsibility of initiating weekly discussion of the assigned readings. In class discourse includes discussion and analysis of the central arguments and conclusions of the theoretical constructs presented in the piece.

This course is the capstone of the eight semester sequence of architectural design studios. Building upon the thesis research completed during the previous semester in Design Studio 7 – Studio Definition, students will finalize a design program for their chosen thesis project. They will carry out a comprehensive design development study, present their design solution to a jury of faculty and visiting professionals, and defend the decision making process that gave rise to their design.